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The Rm1bil Question: What if a BN MP cross over now?

The ethics of cross over has been questioned openly by voters in Perak in the latest episode of Assemblypersons’ defection that brought down a state government. But the issue is not specific to Perak (so all the tears for Perakians are really narrow minded-it is a Malaysian-wide issue). The issue need a consistent stand from all parties for all time. As an avid advocate of cross over -in the name of fighting for `democracy’, the PR leaders need to also provide an answer to the question-which can be put in this way: what if a/some BN MPs/Assemblypersons were to cross over to PR now? Are they equally concerned over the breach of trust of the voters who voted for these BN reps before? Are they demanding a re-vote as they do now for Perak?

A consistent stand will require the defecting rep to allow the voters a say in his/her action. In fact a rep who disagree with the Party should tender his/her resignation rather than hop over to the other side. The law which disallow a resigned rep from standing again should be repealed.

Only then can we say that it is consistent with the demands of free and fair elections.

To be fair the records shows that the Opposition parties are the ones who suffer disproportionately more in terms of its members defecting to the ruling parties/BN, due, probably by the superior financial clouts of BN to induce defections. The question is then: if you can’t beat them, do you join them and stand against the wishes of the people as reflected in their vote?

The BN’s stand has been reflected by BN’s action to repeal a Kelantanese and and a Sabahan anti-hopping law. What is the PR stand?

To accept the defecting reps from 1 side would still run the risk of the same reps defecting back to his/her original side- as though the rep is free of any commitment to any party -or even his/her voters/supporters. PKR just experience the up and down from 1 such BN rep-what lesson has they learned from it, if any?